Band protectors for vacuum bottle



April 25, 1961 R. w. LONG BAND PROTECTORS FOR VACUUM BOTTLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 3, 1958 FIG. 2

3 INVENTOR.

RAY W. LONG i flux ATTORNEY April 25, 1961 R. w. LONG BAND PROTECTORS FOR VACUUM BOTTLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 3, 1958 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. RAY W. LONG ATTORNEY FIG 5 United Estates Patent BAND PROTECTORS FQR VACUUM BQTTLE Ray W. Long, Tallmadge, Ohio (360 Hiliman Road, Akron 12, flhio) Filed Oct. 3, was, 581'. No. 765,087

1 Claim. or. 294-412 This invention relates to removable protectors and a handle for the generally cylindrical, frangible, workmans vacuum bottle. Such bottles generally hold a pint to a quart. The glass bottle, itself, is frangible, and is enclosed in a stiff metal or plastic container which protects it to some extent, but does not prevent its breaking if dropped. Being generally cylindrical, the bottles (without handles) are apt to roll, and may drop over the end of any surface on which they are laid; or it stood on end they may thus roll and break if tipped over. Due to such breakage their life is not as long as desired.

The invention relates to means which prolongs the life of these bottles indefinitely. More particularly, the invention relates to two resilient, elastic and extensible bands which encircle the bottle near its ends, these bands being sufficiently extensible to be stretched on to the bottle. A handle connects the two bands. The vacuum bottles often taper inwardly to an opening at the top, and in such a bottle one band is preferably located just below this tapering portion with the other band very close to the bottom of the bottle.

The bands are preferably made of rubber, natural or synthetic, but may be made of a resilient, slightly elastic and extensible non-rubber plastic, such as a plasticized vinyl resin, etc. The bands are preferably at least about inch thick, but may be thicker. The handle is preferably made integral with the bands, but may be separate and need not be of a plastic material, but may be of leather, metal, etc.

The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a vacuum bottle on its side, without a cap, with the handle and protecting bands made in one piece, and in place on the bottle;

Figs. 2 and 3 are end and side views respectively, of the one-piece handle and bands;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a somewhat similar design of vacuum bottle with a different design of bands and handle in place; and

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the handle and bands, partly broken away, without the vacuum bottle.

Both vacuum bottles are of glass enclosed in a protective case of thin stiff metal or plastic. Dropped from a height of several feet on to a hard surface, the bottle is apt to break whether or not the case shows any damage, such as a dent or the like.

The metal top 5 of the bottle of Figure 1 tapers upwardly from the stiif plastic case 6, and is threaded at 7 to receive a cap which is not shown.

The two circular bands 10, 11 are connected by the handle 12. They are made in one-piece preferably in a mold in which the handle and bands are all in the same plane. The bands are each about inch thick and the ice handle about 7 inch thick. Both bands and the handle are inch to 1 inch wide. These measurements are illustrative only and are not to be interpreted as limiting the invention to the devices described. The unit is made of rubber which is loaded with pigment so as to be only slightly extensible. Thus the bands are difficultly stretchable over the ends of the bottle, but shrink to the bottle and grip it tightly. The handle is only slightly extensible, and is quite stiff so that it is very serviceable when used to lift the bottle in order to drink or pour therefrom.

The same band-and-handle unit can be used on a somewhat shorter bottle, by reversing the position of the hands. This is best explained by referring to Fig. 3. If, instead of extending to the right, the bands are flipped to the left side of the handle, it will be seen that the handle is then attached to the top of the top band and the bottom of the bottom band, bringing the two bands closer together.

The vacuum bottle of Figure 4 is of the same general design, and is shown with the cap 15 covering the tapering pouring spout. The handle 17 is made separate from the two resilient, elastic and slightly extensible bands 19 and 20. Each band is made with an extension 21 at its'rear which has an opening 22 therein. to receive the handle. The handle is of thick, flexible plastic. The ends 24 of the handle are pointed and somewhat wider at 25 than the opening 22. The bands and handle are both made of stiff rubber, so the pointed ends of the handle can be squeezed through the openings 22.

Both extensions 21, and particularly the extension on the lower band 20 are cut away at 27 so that the pointed end of the handle will not extend beyond the farther edge of the band. Thus, the pointed end of the handle does not interfere with placing the bottom band at the very bottom of the cylindrial portion of the case. It might even extend below this to cushion any blow across the bot tom of the bottle.

Modifications are possible within the scope of the claim that follows. Thus the handle, if separate from the bands, need not be made of rubber or the like, but may be made of any suitable flexible material such as leather, etc., or even a metal. The handle may be fastened to the bands in any suitable manner.

The invention is covered in the claim which follows.

What I claim is:

A onepiece band-and-handle unit for a generally cylindrical, frangible workmans vacuum bottle, which unit comprises two annular bands adapted to lie substantially flat on the bottle in axially aligned and widely spaced relation, the bands being connected adjacent one edge of each by a handle, the unit being integrally molded and of resilient, elastic and slightly extensible composition throughout wherein the handle is reversibly attached to the bands, and may operate as integrally attached to the adjacent edges of the bands or the remote edges of the bands when the unit is positioned on said bottle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,237 Thessen Nov. 17, 1908 2,524,639 Saunders Oct. 3, 1950 2,738,114 Kahlan et al Mar. 13, 1956 2,838,202 Huether June 10, 1958 2,855,120 Bramming Oct. 7, 1958 2,922,558 Harvey Jan. 26, 1960 

